by Dannika Dark
“I find that hard to believe. You look like a hobo.”
He gave her a sideways smile. “She called me charming.”
Blue swiftly branched away so she could roll her eyes. “You shouldn’t be here.”
Matteo caught up, his long legs taking short steps to match her stride. “That male almost killed you.”
“Is that so? I could have shifted.”
“Balderdash. He was too close. You wouldn’t have had time.”
She gave him a piercing look. “And how do you know what I can and can’t do? Or maybe you think because I couldn’t escape the lion that I’m weak.”
“I never said that.”
“You implied it. Skulking in the shadows and following me all over the city proves you think I need a bodyguard. Maybe that’s the kind of flattery Chitah women need in their lives, but I won’t tolerate it. This is a secretive job, and if my boss found out you were following us, he’d have your memory scrubbed. What you did helping us with those kids won’t matter. You have no right to meddle in our business.”
“For that I apologize. I have no desire to… meddle in your affairs.”
“No. You just want to make me your bride and fill me with babies.”
Matteo came to a hard stop.
Blue faced him and studied his downward glance. A shadow crossed his features, one so black that she could almost feel its presence as if it were a living thing. “Look, I don’t want to get deep with you. I also don’t want to tiptoe around your feelings. You shouldn’t be here. I’m not the one. I’m just a girl you rescued one night when no one else could carry me.”
He lifted his gaze. “If you choose me, I’ll always carry you.”
“I don’t want to be carried. And I don’t want a man who thinks I need to be carried.”
Incensed, she marched up the road. How the hell was she going to shake this guy off her tail? Chitahs and Shifters had one thing in common: they were persistent. Shifters she understood, but how could she turn off a Chitah?
Matteo caught up again. “Tell me about your kin.”
“Next question.”
“How can I woo you if I don’t know what you desire in a family? Did your name come from your eyes?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I just assumed…”
Blue stopped in her tracks and shot him an icy glare. “You assumed what?”
He lightly shrugged. “It’s uncommon to see a Native with blue eyes.”
“It’s also uncommon to see a Chitah with dark hair. What’s your point? Do you think I’m a product of a mixed mating? Or maybe you’re suggesting something more sinister.” She turned away, thankful she didn’t have her tomahawk.
His hand gripped her arm. “Wait. I have no wish to insult you, female. I want to know you. I want to learn all there is about you.” He released his hold, and his gaze softened. “Tell me something.”
She pondered a minute before giving in. What could it hurt? “My name is one I gave to myself, and that’s a story you don’t get to know about. Yes, my eyes are blue. All my people have blue eyes.”
“Is it because you’re a falcon?”
“No. It’s just a trait within my tribe. I’d never seen people with brown or green eyes until I left my childhood home.”
He tipped his head to the side. “You were isolated as a child. That’s unusual in these times. What did you think when you first saw brown eyes?”
She thought back. “I thought they were beautiful. They were rich and came in many shades, like the earth. Some light, some yellowish, some as dark as a bear’s. The blue eye color in my tribe didn’t have as much range—just the same dull shade.”
“Not dull,” he said, brushing his knuckles against her cheek. “Like two sapphires under the sun. And what do you think of my brown eyes? Do you find them desirable?”
She slapped his cheek and then held out her palm to him. “Mosquito.” After resuming her hike, she thought about Claude and all his stories. She knew just enough about Chitahs that she might be able to scare this guy off by becoming the antithesis of what he desired in a woman.
He jogged up beside her. “I’m grateful for your kindness. Many would have let the insect feast on my blood, but you have a thoughtful spirit,” he said, his voice laced with humor.
She stopped again and wrinkled her nose. “You smell like a feral hog.”
“Does it please you?” He tossed back his head and laughed. “Don’t worry, female. I’ll wash in your creek upon our return.”
Oh, this guy is a riot.
“Viktor’s only tolerating your presence because of the favor you did for us. Don’t count on it lasting.”
“Then I better work harder to win your affection.”
“You seem to have a habit of accepting jobs with little payment.”
His gaze fell to her lips. “The last payment received was the greatest of my life. I thought the kiss would satiate my broken heart, but all it did was make me hunger for you.”
“Those are sweet words you should save for a woman who has a heart to give. Did you really think I’d just ride off into the sunset with you? Live in a cabin in the woods?”
He leaned in, his eyes predatory and his mouth wanton. She remembered the taste of his lips. “I know your heart yearns for the wild. I see it in your eyes.”
“You’ll tire of this.”
“Men tire climbing mountains that reach the heavens. Some journeys are worth the uncertainty of success.”
“Exactly how old are you? You look fairly young, but I get the feeling you could be my grandfather.”
“I’m a young six hundred. In my time, we didn’t ask a person’s age. Do you think wisdom comes with youth?”
She patted his chest. “Apparently it doesn’t come with age. You’re chasing a mouse that can’t be caught.”
Before he could reply, Blue released her human form and let her animal take over. Clothes fell away from her body as she morphed into a winged creature. Matteo’s mouth fell open as she soared upward to the one place she truly belonged.
The world was much quieter from above. She didn’t have any clouds to ride, but the earth unfolded beneath her like a patchwork quilt. Land was divided between territories, farmland, and the wild. Small rivers and creeks carved through them, and the urge to hunt grew strong as her falcon scanned the open fields below. Late afternoon to early evening was the best time to catch wild rabbits, and even though it was too early for hunting, Blue decided to let her falcon take the helm. Through her animal’s eyes, she became a passenger on a spectacular flight.
Far from Matteo and his honeyed words. Far from obligations. Far from remembrances.
Chapter 10
Before going home, I drove by Crush’s trailer. I was curious how he was getting on with his new companion. Crush’s red truck was out front, but I didn’t see any sign of the dog in the yard. Had he gotten rid of him? I sped off before Crush heard my motor humming and came running out with his shotgun.
After gassing up my truck and driving it through the car wash, I went home. The sun had gone down by the time I got there. Judging by the lingering smell of pot roast and the empty dining room, I’d missed dinner. The burger had filled me up anyhow, so I ascended the wide staircase in search of Blue. The wall lanterns guided my way through the stone hallways. In the daytime, Keystone was a castle. But at night it was a place that could make children afraid of monsters.
Maybe I’d bitten off more than I could chew. Hunting murderers was more my speed, but detective work had too many moving parts. Hopefully those bears hadn’t gone back for Blue. She’d left her phone in my truck, so I had no way of getting in touch with her.
I poked my head inside Wyatt’s office. “Have you seen Blue?”
Wyatt—who was stretched over his desk, plugging something in—jumped. “You scared the ghost out of me! Don’t creep up on people like that.”
I leaned against the doorjamb, arms folded. “What’s got you so wired up?�
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He scratched the back of his neck, his eyes darting around. “I put on a kids’ movie for Hunter earlier, and I’m creeped out by it.”
“Which one?”
“The NeverEnding Story. Have you seen it?”
“I don’t think so.”
Wyatt took off his beanie, revealing a tangle of messy brown locks. Sometimes it was easy to forget he was born in the 1800s because of his charismatic, youthful appearance. The patchy whiskers on his face, unruly hair, and casual clothes made him look like a guy who quit college to backpack through Europe. He tossed the hat on his desk and plopped down in his leather chair. “It’s about a kid who reads a book.”
“Sounds terrifying. I think the most I’ve ever seen you read is the ingredients on a Doritos bag.”
He stared at a basket of french fries on his desk, hand inside his shirt as he scratched his belly. “The characters in the book are living their life, oblivious that they’re just part of a story. The kid reading the book holds all the power to save their world.”
“And?”
He rubbed his arms. “What if we’re just characters in a book? What if someone is reading about us, and we only exist on a page?”
I chuckled softly. “Seriously? I have an unsolvable case, Blue has a stalker living on the property, Hunter’s on the run from everyone trying to yank his tooth out, you see dead people all the time, and your worst fear is that you might not be real?”
He circled his finger over the trackpad on his laptop, deactivating the screen saver. “Actually, my worst fear is butterflies, but we’ll pack that up and save it for another day.”
“How many of those mushrooms have you had tonight?”
He gave me an indignant look. “That has nothing to do with it.”
“Eat your fries. If you see Blue, tell her I’m back and to call me.” I handed Wyatt her phone to charge.
Wyatt suddenly turned his head and stared into the empty room. His olive-green eyes locked on something, and he said, “If there’s anyone out there reading this, don’t kill me off. I’ve got a whole life ahead of me. I promise to be more entertaining.”
Hearing heavy boots tromping against the floor in the hallway, I turned to see who was coming. I guessed Shepherd since not even Claude walked that loudly.
Shepherd puffed on his cigarette from the doorway. “If you don’t give me some work to do, I’m going to put your ass in that vending machine with a thousand-dollar price tag.”
Wyatt scoffed as he grabbed a cluster of fries. “The joke’s on you. I’m worth at least ten.”
“I could have used some backup today,” I remarked.
Shepherd squared his shoulders. “You run into trouble?”
“Just fourteen or so bears itching for a fight.”
He chuckled darkly. “What clusterfuck did you get yourself into?”
“We took care of it.”
He flicked ashes on the floor. “I sure as hell hope so. You don’t fuck around with a family of bears. They’re vindictive little bastards. Packs and dens have a little more order and leadership, but some of those bears are wild animals. You need weapons?”
“Viktor doesn’t want us armed. We won’t be able to question anyone if we’re packing. They won’t trust us.”
Shepherd dropped his cigarette inside Wyatt’s soda can. “One of those cases, huh?”
Wyatt gestured to my legs. “Looks like what you really need is mosquito repellent.”
Shepherd ambled toward the sofa. “Nah. Then it might keep her boyfriend away.”
“Have you seen Blue?” I asked.
Shepherd blew a breath of smoke toward the ceiling. “She’s around.”
That was a relief.
“I’ll see you two knuckleheads later.” I stepped into the hall, my leg itching like crazy. What I needed was a stiff drink. My last assignment had reawakened old nightmares I’d just as soon forget. But I wanted to stay as clean as I could for this case. One fuckup would not only get back to my father but possibly damage his reputation.
Switch rounded a corner, his circle beard a little thicker as it often was late at night. The man grew hair at the speed of a werewolf.
“What are you up to, Switcharoo?”
“Shep and I just finished a few games of pool.” He gloated, eyes shining as he leaned against the wall. “I kicked his ass. Three times. What are you up to?”
“Trouble,” I said, strolling toward him.
“Sounds about right.” He stripped off his shirt and fell into step beside me. “I’m about to let my wolf go out for a run. Nice night, lots of land, and a few rabbits to chase.”
“Did you hear about our visitor?”
“The dickhead with the tent?”
I smiled. “You should chase him around for a while. He’s trying to court Blue. I don’t know what he thinks he’ll accomplish by camping out in the woods outside our house.”
“Nietzsche said: There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.”
“How did you get to be so smart?”
“I read a lot of books.”
“I don’t remember that in my high school classes.”
Switch swung the shirt around. “News flash—you don’t need school to expand your knowledge. Most Shifters don’t go to human schools—not unless they want to. All you need is a good teacher and a lot of books. Look around, Raven. You’re surrounded by books. You have libraries in this place, and I bet there are more in some of these closed-off rooms.”
“I’m too busy hunting killers to catch up on philosophy.”
“Well, if you ever need a teacher…”
“I know a thing or two about a thing or two.” I approached the stairs that led up to my floor, and Switch lingered by the ones that went down. “I bought Crush a dog today.”
Switch frowned and rested his arm on the stone railing. “Why would you do that?”
“Because he needs a companion and protector. Don’t judge. It’s not like I bought him a Shifter.”
Switch draped his T-shirt over his broad shoulder. “A pet isn’t a good look for him.”
“As Crush would say: I’m all out of fucks to give. He works his ass off every day, then he goes home and sits in his chair all night. Alone. I got a dog that would protect him, but I also wanted to give him something he could love. Something that could love him back.”
“So you got him a dog out of guilt.”
I gripped the railing and sighed. “He probably gave it away by now. He knows how the packs feel about pets—especially dogs. Despite everything that happened after I left home and disappeared, he stayed clean. He didn’t have to. Crush isn’t the type to settle down, so maybe I just want to see him happy.”
Switch rested his arm on the other balustrade. “He is happy. You’re back in his life. Maybe you can’t see him all the time, but that’s part of growing up and leaving the pack. Or in your case, home. You can’t feel guilty because he chose to live alone. Some people enjoy the life that others pity them for.”
I sat down on the step and removed my boots. “I know he likes his routine, but you know Crush. He’s always been a big teddy bear.”
Switch belted out a laugh. “More like a grizzly.”
“I don’t mean to everyone else, but to me.” I stood with my boots in hand. “I love him. I just want someone else to love him too, even if it is a mangy old dog.” After a quiet beat, I settled my eyes on the large owl and clock tattooed on his left arm. My father told me that ink has a personal meaning for everyone, and sometimes a painful one, so I didn’t go around asking people about it. As far back as I could remember, Switch had that tattoo. Maybe he liked the idea of something wise on his arm. Teaching seemed to be in his blood.
He gave me a pensive look, as if he wanted to tell me things. “I need to find Hunter. I told Shepherd I’d round him up for bed.”
I raised my eyebrows. “You guys just let him wander around by himself?”
“Hell no. G
em took him exploring. God knows where the hell they are, so I’m gonna let my wolf sniff them out. Gem’s a sweet girl, but she’s a little awkward around kids. He might have snuck away from her.”
I didn’t bring up Gem’s business. She’d been robbed of a childhood and had lived as a slave. In many ways, she was childlike herself. I noticed how uncomfortable she became when Hunter was upset. I’d seen her that way once with an infant. Through no fault of her own, she lacked the skills to know how to comfort a child and make them feel safe. Their distress made her panic, and her attempts were ineffectual.
“I’ll see you around,” I said, marching up the steps.
“Raven?”
I paused and looked down at him.
Switch didn’t look up. “Nothing. Never mind.” He shifted, his brown wolf giving me a sideways glance before racing down the stairs.
A few months ago, I might have thought that look was all about his feelings for me. But I no longer got the love vibes from Switch. That look was something else entirely.
Switch had a secret.
When a woman holds a secret, it’s either deeply personal or juicy. When a man holds a secret, it’s nothing but trouble.
Christian rarely entered my room uninvited, so I didn’t bother going there. His Honda and Ducati were both in the garage, so unless he’d gone for a long walk, he was probably in his room or having a drink downstairs.
I knocked and then pushed open his bedroom door. Viktor had assigned us rustic living quarters, but I’d dressed mine up with sumptuous bedding, a painting, rugs, and flower arrangements. Christian hadn’t done a damn thing to his room since day one.
A fire crackled in the hearth on the far wall, only a basic chair in front of it. I peered around the left-hand entryway into the bathroom but didn’t find him there either. Tempted by the candy dish, I padded over to the bed, set my boots on the floor, and plopped down. His crystal dish was the only real décor in his room, if you could even call it that. Christian liked the old-fashioned stuff my daddy used to buy: butterscotch, ribbon candy, various hard candies, and sometimes lemon drops. Tonight it was green peppermints. After twisting off the wrapper, I popped the delicious sweet into my mouth and set the wrapper on the bedside table.
